LAKE WALES, FLORIDA

[Oak Hammock Resort]

We’ve been to Lake Wales before, actually we camped at the same campground we stayed at this time. And to be honest, the town was kind of forgettable back then, I didn’t think much of it. It was our first time taking the camper anywhere. We were doing a mini test run in 2022 before our big cross-country trip, making sure we weren’t making a huge mistake. (Obviously, we fell in love with the whole thing) I remember the campground owners being so kind to us. They helped us hook up the hoses, answered all our rookie questions…honestly, if you have never done it before, it can be really daunting. So, when we were trying to think of somewhere to go for my birthday this year, this campground came up in conversation. It also hosts weddings, and we have been looking for a venue…so we thought this was a perfect opportunity to both celebrate my birthday and scope it out. Then I got to thinking what city was this campground even in? I had completely forgotten, Lake Wales didn’t even ring a bell when Kevin told me.

But this time around when we drove into the town with camper in tow, me, Lilah, Luke in the backseat, Kevin and Daisy in the front, I looked around and thought to myself, how did I not remember this place? It was old Florida, big trees draping down the streets, small hilly roads, corner stores, people having conversations everywhere you turn. It felt as if I had run into an old friend from 20 years ago and they wanted to tell me all about what had happened over the years. This town felt like it had a story wanting to be told. And I was here for it. [Side note- if you’re wondering who Daisy is, we decided to adopt her from the shelter two days before we left for this trip, read on for more on that one!]

PREPPING Originally, we were supposed to stay at Oak Hammock Resort for three nights. From our last trip I really thought we could’ve used an extra night, because travel days, no matter how short they are, are still tiresome. It’s hard to fit in any real activities when so much of the day is spent just getting to your destination.

But once again…we have the worst luck trying to leave. Friday the 13th vibes going on? I’m not sure but it felt like the universe was testing our limits. Kevin’s truck stopped shifting a few days before we were supposed to leave, so we had to bring it into the shop. While it was getting worked on, we became a one car household, which meant things like going to the store and prepping at my own pace were pretty much out of the question. I focused on what I could get done at home, like packing our bags. (By the way, I packed SO much lighter this time around!) I knew it was going to be brutally hot most of the trip, so it made packing easier. It’s when the weather starts changing that I tend to go overboard, because who wants to be cold and not have enough layers?! Not me. We always keep the camper ready to go with things like towels, bed sheets, basic kitchen equipment.

The picture in my head was this: We leave Thursday (my actual birthday), get settled in, do a small trail, have my favorite birthday meal, sit by a fire. Easy. No stress.

What actually happened: The truck was ready to be picked up at 1 pm Thursday, and we still had to get the camper out of storage. We realized there was just no point in trying to rush and load up the camper, finish packing, clean up, and then drive three hours. I didn’t want my actual birthday to feel chaotic.

So instead, I picked up a gorgeous cake, we sang happy birthday, poured a glass of wine and slowly loaded up the camper! We went to bed that night prepared and ready to get on the road in the morning.

We kept meals super simple this trip, too. We didn’t want to cook inside the camper because of the heat, temperatures were in the high 90s. I had also been stressing about Lilah’s sleeping situation. The camper mattress we have is way too soft for her, and I just didn’t feel comfortable having her sleep on it. So we ended up taking her crib mattress and placing it on top of our bed. It worked great! It’s a king-size bed, so there was plenty of room. I slept next to her, and Kevin camped out on the couch in the main area with the dogs.

Oh! Don’t let me forget to tell you about Daisy! Ever since we had Lilah, Luke has been very jealous. I just haven’t been able to give him the same attention as before. We thought maybe he needed a friend. So, Tuesday late afternoon, yes two days before the trip, we visited the shelter. We saw Daisy and immediately knew we had to rescue her. She is a Great Pyrenees, and she and Luke get along so well. Was it the smartest idea to adopt a dog two days before a camping trip? Probably not. But Daisy had the best time, and we don’t regret it for a second.

TRAVELER TIP: Make sure to read the rules about bringing pets to whatever campground you’re staying at before you arrive. We’ve had some ask for proof of rabies vaccine, and most have rules about breeds and number of pets.

FUN FACT: Nature has a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety and improving focus! It’s great for kids to be outside.

ON THE ROAD This ride was quick and easy, the best kind. We stopped once to let the dogs out for a bathroom break. The campground was about two and a half hours away from our house. I timed it out perfectly with Lilah’s nap, so she slept about half of the ride in her car seat. No bottle messes this time since we didn’t need any! That said, I think we both realized we’re going to need a bigger truck in the future to comfortably fit all of us. Adding another dog to the mix, and a big dog at that, made the first 30 minutes feel like we were working on a puzzle, trying to figure out where to put everyone.

TRAVELER TIP: Love gas stations have dog parks/areas for your dogs to run around in! We’ve used a few and they’re great. I will remind everyone though, to pick up after your dog please!

FUN FACT: Google maps is the most used navigation app in the United States. Waze is second.

CAMPGROUND Oak Hammock Resort is a mix of RV sites, all with full hook ups, and cabins. The property sits right on Lake Pierce, so you can walk out to the dock anytime, relax on one of the benches, or swing away on the hammock while watching the water move around with wildlife.

We reserved the one site with its own private mini dock overlooking over a small pond. Every morning, I sat out there with Lilah in her camping chair while we ate breakfast, listened to the birds chirping, watched fish and even a baby alligator swim by! The campground itself was very well maintained. The office had a small store inside, which was convenient. The owners weren’t always there, but they were very good at communicating through text, so if you ever needed anything they would accommodate.

There was a short nature trail located within view of our site. It was stroller- friendly and very manageable for just about anyone. One of our favorite features was the large dog park, which we used multiple times a day. Even better, the nature trail led right to the dog park, which was super convienient.

We visited in mid-June, and the campground was quiet. Many of the sites and cabins were open. Summer in Florida isn’t ideal weather-wise, but if you’re looking to avoid crowds, it’s a great time to go. Just down the road there was a restaurant called Cherry Pocket, very classic “Old Florida” vibe, with gator on the menu, live music. Definitely worth checking out.

ACTIVITIES Of course the main thing we wanted to do in Lake Wales was visit Bok Tower Gardens. My two sisters, nieces, nephew and my best friend and her family drove up for the day to meet us there. It was really special that everyone made the trip over to spend time with us! This was my first birthday with Lilah, so my activity choice looked a little different this year.

It is a National Historic Landmark (super excited to pin this one on our map). Bok Tower is a beautiful botanical garden that has been around for almost 100 years. It was built on one of the highest points in Florida and has a 205-foot singing bell tower. Tickets were a little pricey at $20 per adult, $10 for children, under 5 years old are free. They also allow dogs for a $10 entry fee, although we decided to leave ours at the camper this time. Tours are available too for an extra cost, and they even host weddings, so it was on our list to scope it out along with the campground.

We had lunch at the on-site cafe, and it was delicious. I highly recommend stopping in there. The entire garden was stroller-friendly, and they also had a separate children’s play area which was perfect for the kids. I wish we had more time to spend there to be honest! But I suppose that means we will just have to make another trip back.

Right next to Bok Tower is a fun little roadside attraction called “Spook Hill”. It’s a “gravity hill” that creates the illusion your car is rolling uphill when it’s actually in neutral. It has a quirky folklore story behind it involving an alligator and a Native American Chief, you can read about it here!

There are also two State Parks nearby you can visit as well, Lake Kissimmee State Park and Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park.


TRAVELER’S TIP: If you’re enrolled in the WIC program, they have a “Museums for All” initiative that gives you free admissions into places, Bok Tower is one of them for example! Always check for programs with discounts, or apps to help.

FUN FACT: Bok Tower has over 500 species of native and exotic plants.

LESSONS LEARNED As we packed up to head back home, I really wished we had that extra day I originally planned. Even though the truck issues were out of our control, it just felt like we didn’t have enough time—the story wasn’t done being told.I wanted to see more of Bok Tower, explore Spook Hill, walk around the lakes, and check out the nearby state parks. I didn’t expect Bok Tower Gardens to be that big—we barely made it through half of it.

Next time, I’d definitely plan more time there and bring a little picnic, too. They had a beautiful hillside lawn where people were spread out on blankets eating lunch, and it honestly felt like a missed opportunity. The gardens do allow outside food and drink. We did sit there for a little bit with the kids; and it ended up being the perfect spot to let them run around and burn off some energy before the drive home. Even though we didn’t get to see it all, I loved how present I felt during this trip, and I think that is a lesson I learned in these past years traveling, is that being present in life is the most important. I won’t forget about Lake Wales this time around and I have learned that sometimes the best trips are the ones that leave you wanting to come back.